Search form

You are here

The Ag Minute: Our Economy Needs More Jobs, Not More Regulations

WASHINGTON – This week during The Ag Minute, guest host Rep. Rick Crawford discusses why burdensome government regulations hurt farmers, ranchers, and the economy. In particular, regulation of dust under the Clean Air Act could cripple farms and ranches across the country. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to make a determination this summer on particle pollution standards, including dust. It is time for the Obama Administration to stop creating more regulations and start creating jobs.

"While millions of unemployed Americans are looking for job opportunities, bureaucrats in Washington are focused not on creating more jobs—but more regulations. The way to get Americans back to work is obvious: Get government out of the way.

"No one knows better than farmers and ranchers that job creation has become increasingly difficult due to burdensome regulations. And the threat of more burdensome regulations, especially from the Environmental Protection Agency, seems to grow every day. For example, the EPA is considering tightening regulations on farm dust under the Clean Air Act.

"As any farmer can tell you, you can’t grow food in the dirt without kicking up a little dust. Any farmer can also tell you that no one is a better steward of the environment than farmers because they derive their livelihoods from the land.

"Unfortunately, a tighter dust standard would drain resources that farmers could use to expand their operations by purchasing new equipment and hiring new employees.

Latest News

“SNAP is essential in protecting the most vulnerable citizens during tough times, but we need to have a complete understanding of its mission and purpose.” That was the message from House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway this week as the committee began its top-to-bottom review of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as food stamps.

Today, Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-2), Chairwoman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Nutrition, held a public hearing to review the characteristics and dynamics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.